Text of May 1, 2009, H1N1 Virus Message to Parents/Guardians from Supt. Grier

The following is the text of a message from Supt. Terry Grier to parents/guardians in the San Diego Unified School District. The message was sent by telephone to all phone numbers on record with the district. Parents/Guardians who did not receive the message should talk to their child's school.

This is Superintendent Terry Grier with an important message to all school parents about the H1N1 Influenza A virus (also known as swine flu).

As you may have already heard, at the recommendation of the San Diego County Department of Health following the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the district today closed Kearny High School and the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts due to each school having one identified probable student with swine flu virus, now known as H1N1 influenza virus. These two schools will be closed to students for 14 days and will reopen on Monday, May 18.

At this time, all other district schools, including year round schools, will be open for students on Monday May 4th.

We are in daily contact with the County Health Department and we will continue to follow their recommendations and the guidelines provided by CDC regarding the need for any additional school closures in the days and weeks ahead.

If your child is sick with a fever of more than 100 degrees with a cough and/or sore throat or other respiratory symptoms such as runny nose or nasal congestion, please do not send him or her to school. Please contact your school immediately and let them know your child is sick. Children and staff members who become sick at school will be sent home. Frequent hand-washing and covering a cough or sneeze are the best protection from the flu and the best defense against the spread of germs, both at school and at home.

If you have questions about the flu, please contact the San Diego County Swine Flu Hotline at (858) 715-2250 or call your personal physician. Information is also posted on the district website at www.sandi.net.

Thank you for your attention.